I know 2017 seems such a long way away, but I’ve got to start planning now of course. My hiatus is due to end around November ’16 time, and leading up to that time, I’m producing a few books for release in early 2017.

The first will be Ashton: a G3-EKquel, the sequel to On Tour. Fast-forward 15 years, Ollie and Tyler are happily married, and G3-EK are talking about doing a comeback tour, things are going well for them, things however, are not going well for their 13 year old son Ashton, the burden of being the child of one of the biggest band members in the world is starting to get to Ashton and he wants to get out, so he does, in the form of a Boarding School. It’s a completely new start for Ashton, but how long can he last, before his new classmates find out who he actually is?

His Fairy-Tale; Eli has been locked away in his tower for as long as he can remember, and of course, not being a princess hasn’t helped him in the rescuing department. Until one day, when Prince Aleksander stumbles upon his tower, but, rescuing Eli causes a whole range of problems, and it soon becomes clear, he was not the traditional trapped Princess in a tower.

That Awkward Age: What do you do when the world wants you to act like an adult but treats you like a child? Get high, have sex and drink! Being 17 is awkward for anyone, and Tyler and Keenan know this far too well. Whilst trying to decide what to do with their life, they’re also trying to master the world of sex and alcohol.

I discovered I was older than Young Adult fiction. Now, this didn’t come as a BIG surprise, I mean, I AM 20, but, it sort of struck me. Whilst reading the blurbs of a few of the books in the YA section, I didn’t feel as riveted as I once would, of course, I’ve already read a fair few of the books available, and I was pleased to see LGBT YA fiction making their way onto the shelves.

But, something definitely stopped me from being a book today. It’s an odd sort of transition, as a few of my favourite authors write YA, hell, I’m writing an YA book now, but I’m looking for something older, something more relatable.

Now, this isn’t going to become another post about how necessary New Adult fiction is, as I know, I’ve wrote quite a few of them, but, really, I think that is the level of reading I currently am.

Of course, I must state, if I were to see an Asexual YA book for sale, I would jump on it, also if an YA books blurb blew me away, again, I’d buy it, but, I genuinely think, that I’ve outgrown YA.

So, I took part in the 2015 Reading Challenge on Goodreads, I set myself a challenge to read 20 books this year, and ended the year on 23 read books, and now, I’m going to rate them against each other.

Please note, these are MY opinions, I am not speaking for anyone else. My comments will contain no spoilers, or clues about storylines.

So, we start at 23, 22 and 21 as I read three of my own books, Superstar, All is Equal and The Asexual Equation, I decided not to actually put them in the running of the other books, as that would be unfair, so they’re standing firm at 22 and 23.

20. Dance by Teodora Kostvoa
Dance was my least enjoyable book this year, and I found that really, really unfortunate. Everyone had been raving about it in the M/M Romance group on Facebook, so I thought I’d give it a go. However, I unfortunately found the storyline unrealistic and the characters unrealistic also, I felt things like the ‘I’m hopelessly in love with you’ romance happened too quickly, along with the copious amount of sex, I barely got pass the 25% mark.

19. Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess
I am a big fan of Billy Elliot (the film, the musical etc.), so when I found the book, the decision to buy it was obvious. I found the book to be an extra replica of the film, which is okay, and was quite enjoyable, I just felt as if the book was missing something. I enjoyed reading the book, it was a very easy read, it just doesn’t compare to some of the other books I’ve read in 2015.

18. Everyday by David Leviathan
This was a book I was wary about from the off, I was a huge fan of Leviathain’s a few years ago, as his was the fact M/M book I’d ever read, but as time as gone on, and as my M/M library expands, I appear to be reading less and less. Everyday was actually not an M/M book, but a very intriguing an clever concept, although I feel the concept was achieved, I feel the story was a let down.

17. The Rise and Fall of a Theatre Kid by Seth Rudetsky
Tis was a pleasant YA story. I found it to be very teenage, both the storyline, and the character’s voice displayed that, which, I suppose makes this a successful YA book. It was an enjoyable read, and had no complications to it, all in all, a very enjoyable book.

16. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by David Leviathan
The second Leviathan on the list, this book was an odd read for me. I found the concept to be intriguing and very well executed, but the characters lacked in something. I found this book to be an easy, and quick read, that left me feeling satisfied.

15. Angel Kemory by Jo Banks
This was a genre of book I very hardly read, but I’m glad I read this book. This book has a fantastic storyline, plot-twists and all, and brilliant characters, I found this book to be intriguing, definitely a page-turner, and one I would happily read again.

14. Another Day by David Leviathan
This was the sequel of Everyday, this like it’s prequel was a very risky buy, I was fearful of reading this book, but found that for once, the sequel trumped the first book. I enjoyed Rhiannon’s POV far more than A’s, and even began to believe the story far more, whilst reading this book.

13. Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer
I decided to read this book, because I am fond of Chris Colfer, and wanted to see whether his writing talents where as brilliant as his acting, this book however failed to WOW me, but I did enjoy it. I had watched the film beforehand, but the book, of course, made the storyline far clearer, and far more enjoyable. I did enjoy this book, although nothing really happy happens in it, at all, but I’m glad I’d definitely read it once.

12. Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
The blurb of this story got me straight off. I loved the idea of it and couldn’t wait to read it, the story itself didn’t disappoint, it was an enjoyable read, with a well thought out storyline, and interesting characters, the book, didn’t quite have a very satisfying end, but, that didn’t matter too much, as it seemed from the beginning that the end would be dissatisfying, especially with the concept that his life doesn’t end with the story.

11. One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva
This was another very YA story, but it succeeded as a YA story. I enjoyed this book, as it was an easy read, with a likeable main character, realistic romance and of course, some overdramatic teenage angst. I feel I’d have enjoyed this book more when I was younger, but now, I found it to be a very pleasant read, which, if I had an afternoon to spare, would happily read again.

10. Sydney’s Spaceship by Jo Banks
This book is apart of the same series Angel Kemory is, but, for some reason I enjoyed this book more, I think I preferred Sydeny’s POV and I definitely preferred his story. This book was a re-read from a few years ago, and I am so glad I decided to reread it, Sydney’s Spaceship will always have a place on my bookshelf.

9. The Evolution of Ethan Poe by Robin Reardon
I am an avid reader of Reardon, and Ethan Poe didn’t disappoint, this felt like such a fresh, and exciting book, that I just couldn’t put it down, I read things in this book that I have never seen approached by any author, and Reardon pulled them off fantastically, I was especially fond of the romance throughout this story, as it seemed very new, whilst also feeling familiar.

8. Marley and Me by John Grogan
After being quite the fan of the film, I felt it only right to read the book, and I would totally recommend this book to anyone, dog-lover or not. I found this book an entertaining read, with the perfect mixture of comic genius and touching moments. Grogan really told the story of his beloved Marley well.

7. In Real Life by Joey Graceffa
Obviously as this story is an autobiography there is not much I can say on the matter, but, I really quite enjoyed Joey’s story, and felt a strong connection with it.

6. Throwing Stones by Robin Reardon
This, I felt is one of Reardon’s best pieces of work. The storyline is so fresh, the characters are so believable and everything that happens in this story is a shock. I loved this book from start, to finish. This book definitely had a lasting effect on me.

4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This wasn’t my first Rainbow Rowell book, and it definitely wasn’t my last. I adored this book from start to finish. I love Rowell’s talent of writing all characters, and also writing such a wide variety of characters, her storylines are relatable, and her writing is flawless.

3. Barefoot in the City of Broken Dreams by Brent Hartinger
This is the 6th book in the Russel Middlebrook series, a series I have been following since the beginning, and this book did not disappoint in the slightest. I admire Hartingers work, and love how he has successfully grown his character up with his audience. I would recommend the Russel Middlebrook series to anyone, as the slightly neurotic, something idiotic, and always lovable Russel has a fantastic voice, one you can instantly connect with, even through all the metaphors!

2. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I picked up this book on a whim, this was an impulse buy, before a long trip, but, never have I connected with a book so quickly in my life, I was captivated by this book, every element of this story moulds together perfectly, and the ending is so cleverly thought out, that even if you tried your hardest, I’m pretty certain you wouldn’t come to the same conclusion. This debut novel for Albertalli really is something else, I hope to see many, many more works from this author in the future.

I had high expectations for this book way before it’s release, the moment I read the blurb this book was either going to blow my socks off, or disappoint me, needless to say, this book blew my socks way, way off. Rowell’s imagination is out in full force in this story, and you can tell, everything about this book is magical. The moment you start with this book you are teleported into a completely different world, you are apart of Simon and Baz’s world, and I wouldn’t want to be in any other place. This book has left a lasting impression on me, and it definitely tops my list for 2015.

Like this:

So I have recently made this transition, in my writing, in my life and so forth, it’s amazing, there is a years difference but the writing feels 110% different. I first noticed it in my first NA novel, Released, where 19 year old Jason is holding down a job, moving out his parents house and in with his boyfriend, which is miles away from my YA 14 year olds in Year 10 just trying to get through their GCSE’s.

I find the writing process also changes, for a start we have the prospect of sex, we have the prospect of alcohol, we have many new things to approach and play with. Which every time is new and fun to do so.

For example; in Twenty-Two Steps (Coming in August), we approach modern day poverty, drug use, sex, serious relationships and everything else under the sun, everything was a challenge to write and was an even bigger challenge to ensure everything was approached in a sensitive manner.

I enjoy new challenges and the transition that is undergoing is a big challenge which I am ready to conquer.